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Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
29
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-7 Key Specs

Panasonic FX580
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FX550
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Raise to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed October 2009
  • Successor is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-7, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the FX580 (12MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is pretty similar but the FX580 (1/2.3") and K-7 (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The FX580 was released 8 months before the K-7 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FX580 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the FX580 matches up vs the K-7 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX580 over the Pentax K-7

 FX580 K-7 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Panasonic FX580

 K-7 FX580 
RevealedOctober 2009January 2009Newer by 8 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX580 and Pentax K-7

 FX580 K-7 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FX580 has got physical measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Pentax K-7 has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-7 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the FX580 versus the K-7.

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FX580 and K-7 is 95 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions only by going over technical specs. The pic here might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the FX580 and K-7.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FX580 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Pentax K-7 will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged FX580 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FX580
Portrait photography with Pentax K-7
26
comes with face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
72
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX580 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Street photography camera
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX580 Sports photography info
Pentax K-7 Sports photography info
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
69
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
max fps low (5.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FX580
Travel photography with Pentax K-7
58
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
64
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX580 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-7 Landscape photography info
36
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
77
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX580 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-7 Vlogging highlights
30
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
25
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone port
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Panasonic FX580 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX580 and Pentax K-7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580Pentax K-7
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 Pentax K-7
Alternate name Lumix DMC-FX550 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2009-01-27 2009-10-02
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4672 x 3104
Highest native ISO 1600 2000
Highest boosted ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-125mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m 13.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167g (0.37 pounds) 750g (1.65 pounds)
Dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 61
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.6
DXO Low light score not tested 536
Other
Battery life - 980 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/MMC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $499 $599